Burglar caught after losing his rosary beads at the scene of the crime

BUTTONS and beads were the undoing of burglar Derek Brazil, a court heard.

Police found Brazil's DNA on beads he dropped at the scene of the crime

During one of his two house raids his rosary necklace fell off - and police found his DNA on the beads. And during the second burglary he lost three of his shirt buttons as he climbed in through a window and his DNA was on those too.

Via video link from remand prison to Gloucester Crown Court Brazil, 22, of Norbury Avenue, Matson, Gloucestershire, admitted breaking into houses in Leckhampton Road, Cheltenham, and Yarnton Road, Cassington, near Witney on the same day, October 3, with intent to steal.

Brazil, who had no previous convictions, was jailed for 14 months. Prosecutor Anjali Gohil said although nothing was stolen from either house both raids had caused great distress and concern to the home owners.

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It was about 3pm on October 3, she said, that pregnant Claire Cullen-Jones returned home to Leckhampton Road to see a car outside blocking the entrance.

There were three men in the car but the front passenger seat was empty. She stopped a little distance away and got her son out of the car and as she did so she heard the car sounding its horn.

Going into the house she realised she had been burgled and she saw a fourth man, Brazil, in the car as it left. The house had been searched but nothing was missing.

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Brazil admitted to breaking into houses in Leckhampton Road, Cheltenham

"A blue plastic necklace of rosary beads was found and it had the defendant's DNA on it," said Miss Gohil. "The police went on Facebook and found a picture of the defendant wearing an identical necklace.

A blue plastic necklace of rosary beads was found

Prosecutor Anjali Gohil

"Mrs Cullen-Jones was pregnant at the time and she has described having feelings of fear, panic and disbelief. She says she was very emotional and tearful when she called the police."

In a victim statement Mrs Cullen-Jones said "I hope when he is sentenced he will have some understanding that his actions have had an impact. More than that, I hope he will take advantage of whatever schemes and help are available to help him change his mind about the way he makes money."

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Derek Brazil has been sentenced to 14 months in prison

Miss Gohil said when Brazil broke into the house in Cassington nr Witney he lost three distinctive buttons. One was found in a bush outside the window he broke in through. The others were in the window trap Again, his DNA was found on them.

The householder, Natalie Brown, had also been distressed by the way her home had been searched, the prosecutor said. Sarah Jenkins, defending, urged the court to pass a suspended sentence on Brazil in view of his lack of convictions.

"The offences come about because of the associations he had made with other criminals," she said. "His family, who are very supportive, say that these people were dragging this young man down. But they have now gone back to Ireland and that is not going to go on any longer.

"He found out a few weeks ago that his girlfriend is 16 weeks pregnant - he has been in custody on remand and has missed out on important moments like the scans.

"He says he is truly sorry for these offences. He says 'I am ashamed of what I have done.' He says 'I want to change my life. I know I can do it and I need a chance to prove myself.'" Asking for a suspended sentence for Brazil she said he has the offer of immediate work with a cousin's building firm.

But Judge Michael Cullum said the offences were too serious for anything other than an immediate jail term, especially as one of the offences was in Cheltenham where house burglary is rife.